Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002845/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mary Khan (ESN), Petra Steger (PfE)
On 18 March 2025 the Hungarian Parliament passed a law prohibiting gatherings that violate the Hungarian Child Protection Act. Breaking this law exposes participants to fines of up to EUR 500 and organisers to prison sentences of up to one year. Subsequently, on 14 April 2025, a constitutional amendment was passed by a two-thirds majority that places child protection above all fundamental rights except the right to life and stipulates that there are only two genders. Flying in the face of this legitimate expression of national sovereignty, on 25 June 2025 Commission President von der Leyen ordered Hungary to uphold fundamental rights and demanded that the Budapest Pride parade, which had been staged as propaganda despite being banned, be allowed to take place with impunity.[1] In so doing, the Commission once again overstepped its authority and interfered in internal affairs – a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of a democratically legitimate Member State. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s unambiguous response that what happens on Hungary’s streets is not to be decided in Brussels therefore deserves recognition and broad European support.
- 1.On what legal basis is the Commission President calling for events that are banned in Member States to be allowed to take place with impunity?
- 2.Does the Commission not see a contradiction in promoting diversity while at the same time wilfully delegitimising the culturally established values and democratic constitutional decisions of individual Member States?
- 3.What measures is the Commission taking to protect national child protection laws from ideological influence by EU institutions, bodies, agencies and other entities?
Submitted: 11.7.2025
- [1] https://orf.at/stories/3397824/